CD

When merited veterans of Norwegian Death/Black Metal conspire to breathe life into a new entity, you know you are in for a real treat.

ULVEHUNGER`s Retaliation, the outcome of a joint effort by L.J. Balvaz (BALVAZ/CADAVER/DISGUSTING) and K.B. Fletcher (DISGUSTING) together with none other than legendary Frost (SATYRICON/1349) and Anders Odden (CADAVER/ORDER/SATYRICON live) has Norwegian Death/Black Metal written all over it.

Tracks like “Desecrator”, “Consumed By Hate” or “Rise From The Shadows” convince with memorable riffs that are razor-sharp and remorselessly attacking yet melodious and melancholic at the same time. Pushed ahead by Frost`s unmistakable drumming and L.J. Balvaz`scornful sermons Retaliation is a dynamic, ravenous beast of an album.

ULVEHUNGER, despite being steeped in the tradition of classic outputs by compatriots CARPATHIAN FOREST, DARKTHRONE or GORGOROTH deliver without being a carbon-copy of said bands. ULVEHUNGER managed to create a worthy addition to the endless list of masterpieces from Norway no adherent of the genre can afford to miss out on.

Compilation of the early Desultory demos. All tracks mastered from the original DAT tapes by Patrick W. Engel in February 2024.

Commonly cited and appreciated as one of the trailblazers of melodic Death Metal, swedish DESULTORY`s roots are deeply buried in Thrash Metal. Wearing their influences on their sleeves, their first demo From Beyond features songs in the vein of KREATOR, TESTAMENT or MERCILESS.
Apart from Klas Morberg`s eery howlings which bear semblance with early TIAMAT and the fact that the demo was recorded in legendary Sunlight Studios in 1990 From Beyond is basically a Thrash Metal demo, albeit a very enjoyable and strikingly well-played one.

It was with Death Unfolds from 1991, the rabid pack`s second demo, that DESULTORY really came into their own as far as style and sound are concerned.
Again recorded by Tomas Skogsberg in his renowned Sunlight Studios, the demo showcases most of the band`s typical trademarks they would go on to be admired for. Bangers like "Passed Away" and "The Chill Within" both of which would end up being re-recorded for DESULTORY`s debut album are top-tier swedish Death Metal with downtuned guitar riffs in abundance and a particular sensitivity for melody.

Simply titled Visions, the 3rd demo again recorded in Sunlight Studios in 1992 logically continues DESULTORY`s trajectory.
Building on the fundament laid out on Death Unfolds some of the ingredients only hinted at previously are extended and fine-tuned on tracks like "Forever Gone" and "Depression". Aided by the strongest production of their demos giving the songs that certain extra punch this demo is victorious on all fronts and a must listen for anyone into swedish Death Metal of the highest order.

MEFITIS is a dark metal endeavor dedicated to venturing the shadowy depths and desolate expanses of musical expression. Formed by Pendath and Vatha in 2007, Mefitis would from day one embody a metallic maelstrom intruding on the defined boundaries of extreme music. After some fallow years, the duo emerged to realize their dark metal vision with the 2019 full length Emberdawn. This record put forth their signature style of boundless songwriting across black and death metal, telling parables of degradation and savagery in both lyrics and the very music itself. The kindling now sparked, Mefitis returned in 2021 with their follow up in Offscourings. Here they would expand further on the possibilities of dark metal, exploring gloomier climes and thornier guitar arrangements. In addition, the band solidified a conceptual framework for the music to occupy, known as Skoria. In this parallel world out of time, the music, themes, and imagery could exist as ideas unto themselves rather than mere simulacra.

And so, Mefitis brings you their newest work: a duology in grey titled The Skorian // The Greyleer. Initially conceived as an experiment for analog tape, the new record is informed by the constraints and particular character of that medium. Every piece of sound you will hear was initially tracked to tape and then digitized and mixed by Mefitis. The dual title is indicative of the two halves, which were recorded in separate time spans and studio locations. However, The Skorian and The Greyleer are reflections of each other, and can be appreciated both in parts and in whole. Where past works looked outward to an ashen world, this new release contemplates its own crumbling edifice. It calls into question the very notion of one’s ‘self’ as an entity in thrall to its master. Witness now this loathing gallery, and join the grey.

JEWELCASE

Almost four years after the acclaimed Vsesvit, Ukrainian one-man atmospheric black metal band Severoth is back with a new studio album. Multi-instrumentalist Illia Rafalskyi took some time to gather his thoughts and introduce his latest work as follows.

“Originally, By the Way of Light was intended as the spiritual successor for Vsesvit. I started working right after Vsesvit was finished, I wanted to create something powerful, energetic but yet light and bright. Something which will inspire people to be better versions of themselves. And to remember that there is always hope.

Music was mostly composed and recorded at my home studio in Dnipro, Ukraine. Actively crafted from 2021 up until 23th february of 2022. And intended to be released somewhere in 2022. But on the 24th of February my family and I woke up at 4 am from the sounds of distant explosions… That is when the Russian invasive full-scale war against Ukraine started. And our lives changed forever… 

For a full year since then I haven’t created a single note for this album and my mind was far from music, with exception of the second song, “Sons Of Steel Will”, for which I wrote lyrics in September 2022, inspired by the events of that period.

Later in 2023, after more than a year of ongoing war we moved to a safer place and I was able to finish the album. So, I’ve spent around half a year working and re-working the material. In the summer 2023 drums and missing vocals were recorded. Music and lyrics I wrote myself. Lyrics are in Ukrainian, but translations in English are featured in the booklet. The cover art and all inner illustrations were done by my wife Julia (UD).

I’m glad I have had the opportunity to finally finish this album and share it with the world.”

"North" is a special chapter for Sorcier Des Glaces. Having been composed and partially recorded at the same time as "Snowland MMXII" and "Ritual of the End", this chapter was experimented with a much more powerful and cleaner production.

Some moments of very fast blast beats, others calmer and more atmospheric, North is like a journey beyond the black glaciers, on a northern restless sea filled with human souls that have been banished from this world long ago.

The song "North" was written in 1995, and was originally intended for the former band Moonlyght, of which both members of Sorcier Des Glaces were members.

Open the mouth of Hell: Filii Nigrantium Infernalium, classical portuguese maniac Black Metal pioneers, deliver their 4th album for Osmose Productions.
Crushing, demented production and compositions. Blasphemous disconcerting artwork by cult artist Paolo Girardi. Forged out from the pandemic, this masterpiece is raw, baroque and complexly straight to the point, an unpredictable, insane labyrinth of sound and words.
Sacrilegious and offensive speedthrashblackmetal, grotesque sinister gloom, venomous sarcasm ranging from old school heavy metal to dark sharpened doom and relentlessly wild blasting beats' devastation.

CD jewel case with 8 page booklet 145g art paper, sealed.

Jewel case CD, 12 pages booklet.

Void of Hope is a Finnish black metal trio born during a recording session. The whole album was composed and recorded in five days in the studio with -30°, -35° outside and in complete darkness for most of the day. Screams took place later and were recorded in 2 days.

Void of Hope includes members from Moonlight Sorcery and Ondfødt and consider themselves influenced by bands like Gris, Silencer, Lifelover, Coldworld and Austere.

Void of Hope can be a place or a state of mind, and their debut album Proof Of Existence is a journey through mental health and depression, the outcome of which may be triumph or giving up. Proof Of Existence started as depressive black metal but grew into much more.

Void of Hope is not an anonymous band, yet they do not consider their identities relevant, as regardless of what names are printed in the album, the music is all that matters.

The horrors of reality are the proof of your existence, and they will be brought to you via Avantgarde Music on January 31st, 2025.

Skaldr is a black metal band created in 2017. Comprised of experienced musicians offering their first representation in the heavier aspects of music, the group joined together to explore shared interests in the darker elements of expression. Continuing with the melodious gloom of their debut album, Scythe of Our Errors, Skaldr beckons from the darkness once more with their sophomore record, Saṃsṛ. A thematic observation of loss, devastation, and change, Saṃsṛ reflects on how death and life, formation and demise, are bound in an inextricable cycle—each sustaining the existence of the other in perpetuity.

With Saṃsṛ, Skaldr leans into the melodic, cold atmospheres reminiscent of Scandinavia classic black metal sound from the '90s. Drawing inspiration from bands like Dawn, Dissection, and Windir, Skaldr evokes a sound that feels both rooted in tradition and invigorated with fresh energy. Each track builds upon the previous, weaving intricate guitar melodies, relentless percussion, and somber atmospheric elements to create a mournful yet fierce landscape. Skaldr's dual guitars create an interplay of harmony and discord, echoing the album’s theme of unity through destruction

Deluxe collectors digibook with 32 pages booklet!
Limited edition 500 copies!

On an important note, "Saturnalia" is announced as the final album of Selvans.
The third and last chapter of the Trilogy Lupercalia - Faunalia - Saturnalia.
Selvans is dead, long live Selvans! 

Born in 2014 as an atmospheric band blending black metal with traditional Italian folk music elements and deeply rooted in themes of local folklore, mythology, and dark cultural heritage, Selvans released two landmark albums "Clangores Plenilunio" and "Lupercalia".
In the mid of their career though the band let their 70's dark/prog background influences prevail in their new compositions, stylistically reaching a model they like to describe as "Dark Italian Art." This evolution was notable in the in subsequent releases (Faunalia, 2018 and Dark Italian Art, 2021).
Initially a duo, the band transitioned to a solo project under Selvans Haruspex in 2019 and we can definitely envision their music as heavy metal with black metal and prog-rock influences, lirically inspired by Italian folk-horror tales and imagery.
SELVANS has toured extensively around Europe - including performances at such festivals as Metaldays (Slovenia), De Mortem Et Diabolum (Germany), Metalowa Wigilia (Poland), Frantic Fest (Italy), Rites of the Black Mass (Romania), Dark Medieval Fest (France), Autumn Souls of Sofia (Bulgaria) and Emanations of the Absolute (Switzerland).  New album "Saturnalia" is entirely sung in Italian and sees for the first time an orchestra and a choir consisting of 60 elements playing side by side with SELVANS and his band.

The quest to bring all Nest works to life in a new mix and for the first time on vinyl is something we take very seriously here at Avantgarde Music. A few months after re-releasing the Finnish band’s first two EPs combined, Fabled Lore / Hidden Stream, it’s time to announce the release of Nest’s classic debut, Woodsmoke, which will be released on CD and LP on January 17th, 2025.

Here follow a few words from Aslak Tolonen, the band’s mastermind. 

"Woodsmoke is the first professionally released Nest full length album. It builds on all the elements that came before and uses them to weave a
fully formed aural storybook. It combines fast driving songs with slower introspective atmospheres. It is highly melodious, and adds a wide
variety of synthetic soundscapes. The core, as always, is the Finnish national instrument - the kantele (a kind of lap harp) - and it is
joined by an even wider range of synthetic instruments, varied percussion, and spoken word vocals meant to evoke the mystical and the
profound. Upgraded audio equipment, with new recording and mixing capabilities, elevates the quality of the material even further. The
result is an inquiring mix of acoustic and ambient, melody and atmosphere, in an entrancing package. It explores the themes of nature,
the grandioseness and the brutality found in the untamed wilds. It conjures up images of the healing waters, the tumultuous summer storms,
and the sparkling winter nights - to both excite and to soothe."